On December 3, 2025, Russian authorities blocked access to the U.S.-based children’s gaming platform Roblox. The ban was announced by Russia’s telecom regulator Roskomnadzor, which stated Roblox was distributing “extremist materials” and “LGBT-propaganda,” claims that led to the blocking of the platform across the country
The regulator described the platform as “rife with inappropriate content that can negatively impact the spiritual and moral development of children.”
Why Russia Says It Banned Roblox
According to Roskomnadzor, the reasons for the ban include:
- Repeated dissemination of content that allegedly promotes or justifies extremist or terrorist activity.
- Presence of material related to LGBT themes, which Russia classifies as “LGBT propaganda.”
- Allegations of child-safety issues: sexual harassment of minors, coercion, sharing of intimate images, and exposure to violent or inappropriate virtual content.
Roskomnadzor also claimed that Roblox’s internal moderation system repeatedly failed to keep harmful or prohibited content from appearing on the platform.
Global Context: Roblox Under Scrutiny Elsewhere Too
Russia is not the first country to ban or restrict Roblox. The platform has faced bans or restrictions in countries such as Iraq and Turkey, often over concerns about child safety and user-generated content.
The platform has been under pressure globally to improve safety — recently it introduced mandatory age verification and new controls for under-13 users to limit direct messaging and reduce risk of exploitation.
Impact: What the Ban Means for Users & Developers
- Millions of Roblox users in Russia will lose access to games, social interaction, and user-generated content on the platform. According to recent data, Roblox had over 150 million daily active users globally.
- Developers and creators — including those building custom games or social experiences on Roblox — will potentially lose their audience in Russia.
- The ban underscores growing cultural and regulatory divides: content considered normal or acceptable elsewhere (e.g. LGBTQ-related content, user-generated media) may be banned or heavily censored under Russia’s laws.
- This move reinforces a broader trend of authorities restricting Western digital platforms, especially those aimed at younger users or containing user-generated content.
What Roblox Has Done on Safety — And Why It Was Not Enough
Roblox Corporation has made multiple safety improvements over past years. For example, in November 2025, it rolled out mandatory age verification to use chat features, and enhanced parental controls for users under 13. Reuters
Despite these efforts, Russian regulators judged that the platform still failed to meet their standards for content moderation and compliance with local laws — particularly laws concerning “extremism” and “propaganda.” The ban reflects the difference between global content moderation policies and local legal/cultural norms.
What Happens Next
It remains unclear whether Roblox Corporation will attempt to restore access in Russia with changes to content moderation or compliance. Historically, once a platform is blocked by Roskomnadzor for extremism-related or propaganda-related content, reinstatement is difficult without significant structural changes.
Meanwhile, users, parents, developers and digital-rights advocates — inside and outside Russia — will likely observe this decision closely, as it raises bigger questions about censorship, regulation of user-generated content, and safety vs. freedom of expression online.
